The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1887-09-10
THE RED COATS.

THE RED COATS.
In the month of August, 1914, during tho
last war between the United States and Eng
land, the American sloop of war Adams, of
twenty-four guns, under command of Capt.
Charles Morris, put into Penobscot bay, on
the coast of Maine, for the purpose of taking
in provisions and water. The Adams had
recently captured several British vessels and
had on board sixty prisoners, sailors and
officers, and it was Capt. Morris intention to
dispose of them by shutting them up in the
Jail at Wiscasset, until they should be eH-
changed.
The weather was very thick and foggy that
morning, and, by Il hlunder of the pilot the
vessel was run ashore on Isle au Huut. and
only got off, i'll II leaky condition. by lightc,l-
ing. 1t was then decided to so up to Pcnob-
scot, past Castine, for repairs The prisoners,
and twenty-five of the ships crew, sick of
scurvy, were therefore landed at Camden,
then small coast village, and turned over to
the town officers, with request to march the
captives to Jail, and to give the Yankee
sailors the best Accommodations possible.
1t was heavy demand to make of so small
town. Manyof the men We're away, either
ut sea or in the army, and it was difficult to
get together q sufficient guard. Meant inc,
some of the prisoners We're wandering about
the village, going where they pleased, having
good humoredlv promised Lieut.. IIanfor,l, of
the militia company, to go with him TO Wis
casset "when lie got his men together"
Among the officers We're five whose names
hayy tn Nal
ton, Church, Evans and Wil,!cs The five,
forming little group, ker, together, and
went around from store to store, indulging
their appetite for liquor. All of them, and
Church i'll particular, had been hard drinkers
on their own ship But their supply of liquor
had been cut off when they We're captured,
and now they were nlaki"g up for their cn-
forced abstinence 10y having spree.
Church had already been more than once
on the verge of that terrible disease, tlclrium
tremens, and now his excessive Indulgence
was too much for him. He fell down i'll the
street in horrible paroXysm, and few
hours later expired in great agony. He was
buried that same afternoon in the church,
yard of the hamlet. Many Of the people of
the town, as well as most of the prisoners, at
tended the funeral, and they all fraternize,l
together rs though they had been fellow
countrymen, and not enemies.
After the services Lieut.. Hanford addressed
the British, and bade them all come To the
meeting house at 6 o'clock that evening. and
DO ready to start for Wiscasset. He had by
that time succeeded in getting together about
twenty nlan to act as n guard.
To this proposition the prisoners agreed;
then went off, wandering again among the
houses and shops.
While the prisoners We're getting tlicr sup
per, Eamesbury and his three fellow officers
above mentioned fell i'll with Il well known
pilot of the bay, oe whom we will here speak
us Pilot T., for at this distance of time no
good end will he served by giving his real
name. From this man they learned that the
British were then i'll possession, of the town of
Eastport, farther along the coast, and that it
would not be very difficult exploit to escape
to them there.
The poor fellows naturally preferred this
prospect to that of going to Jail at Wiscasset,
and Immediately made the pilot al offer of
all their money to take them to their country
men at Eastport in his sailing boat
TO perform suchu service, however, would
bo high treason, and punishable with death.
Pilot r hesitu,etl, but the sight of several
doubloons finally induced him to risk it.
ed under cover of some bushes, and pulled
away.
They were not observed, and might have
got safely way but for that unfortunate love
for strong liquors, which has, in all times,
brought so many fine fellows to grief The
prospect of long dry trip to Eastport was
so unpleasant that, when a little way below
Negro 1s,and they put ashore again, and
Evans, at Pilot T-'s suggestion, went to
house at some distance in the hope of DUR
chasing quart of rum
Meantime it was past 6 O'Clock, and the
four officers had been missed when the rest of
the prisoners assembled i'll front of the meet.
ing house. A squad of Lieut. Hanford's little
company was dispatched to look them UP.
Word having reached the squad that q
'red coat" had been secm going across lots to
the house above mentioned, the niltiamen
ran thitler, and captured the lucllless Evans
just as he was settling for his quart of liauor.
Before they could reach the beach where the
boat lay, however, Pilot + either saw
them, or took the hint and put off with the
other three fugitives.
The breeze had fallen, but they all four
bent to the oars, and made the best rate of
speed possible. The pilot was now cve, more
anxious than the Britons themselves TO avoid
capture.
Iidings of the flight were soon sounded
through the village; n crowd collected at the
wharf, where new and fast sailing boat be-
longing to one Dick Conway was speedily
manned to go in pursuit of the runaways. The
party i'll the boat consisted of Capt. Asher
Palmer, Dick Conway, and three sailors
named Robbins, Iarr and Brown, five al
together, armed with muskets
1t was now about sunset. The five men
pulled out of the harbor, and soon sighted the
objects of their pursuit veil down toward
Deer Island. Pilot T, fearing chase.
had already seen them, and there then ensucci
most exciting race. The Englishmen, fired
with hope of liberty, and Pilot r, dread
ing q halter, pulled desperately at their oars,
and sent their boat onward ct rapid rate
But Capt. Palmer had all extra man in his
boat: and moreover, the members of his crew
were all expert oarsmen. His boat, too, was
lighter and more easily propelled through the
water. The pursuers gained steadily on the
fugitives. gradually reducing the distance to
about 800 yards. Both boats We're now off
Edgemaroggon beach, when, with a final
squirt, Palmer and his sailors brought their
boat up opposite the pilots, distant not more
than twenty yards from it.
Thus far not word had been said nor q
hail exchanged; it had been hard, grim,
silent race. But Capt Palmer now stood up,
and cooking amusket, commanded Pilot T.
to stop rowing, or he would shoot him AS
neither T nor any of the officers lad
weapons of any kind, resistance on their part
was out of the question.
They reluctantly surrendered.
The boats were laid alongside; and without
much ceremony all four OF the fugitives were
tied with ropes by their captors.
~ don't blame you red coats SO much ex-
claimed Palmer, "but you. T, will have to
swing for this trick, and no mistake about
it,
Il expect so,' grumbled the pilot "But
don't YOU be too sure about it, Ash Palmer..,
They left the pilot aud Eamesbury, with
their hands crossed and tied. in the captured